One of the biggest challenges for many nonprofit organizations these days is how to efficiently and effectively use their volunteers as fundraisers. I’ve been asked to speak on this specific topic many times to help organizations that are struggling with this issue.
Fundraising should always be a team effort. It’s rarely accomplished by staff alone. Successful fundraising should be a partnership between staff and volunteers — both board members and non-board members.
How to Turn Your Volunteers into Fundraisers
Here are three simple steps that will help you turn your volunteers into fundraisers for your cause.
1. Ask volunteers to give first.
It’s not enough for those volunteers who are helping with fundraising to give only their time. If they’re going to ask others for money, they should be willing to donate their money too. You know the saying, put your money where your mouth is. If volunteers ask for money and haven’t given it themselves, it rings hollow.
All board members should make their own personal donations to the organization where they are board members. That’s because they should lead by example. If they want others to give, it’s important for them to give too.
It’s important to note that each volunteer should give an amount they are comfortable with. Their gift doesn’t need to be equal to the amounts they are asking for, but it should be meaningful for their own personal budget.
2. Give them tasks they can do.
Start small. Be specific when asking a volunteer to help with fundraising. Have a list of tasks or activities you would like assistance with.
For example:
- Personalize thank-you letters
- Make thank-you calls
- Invite friends to take a tour of the organization
- Bring colleagues to fundraising events
- Coordinate a meeting with a prospect and the executive director
These tasks are simple, concrete, and specific. Volunteers know when they have done these things and can feel a sense of accomplishment. Once they feel comfortable with easier types of fundraising, they can move on to more challenging responsibilities, such as asking for major gifts and planned gifts, chairing committees, and even planning a capital campaign.
3. Provide training.
Don’t assume that board members and other volunteers automatically know how to fundraise. It is a learned skill, and for most people, it’s not something that comes naturally.
Provide your volunteers with fundraising training at least annually. And train on an ongoing, regular basis at board meetings and other appropriate events. Bring your star fundraising volunteers with you to conferences and fundraising seminars so they can continue to learn.
For more information on turning your volunteers into fundraisers, invite me to speak at your next event.
How About You?
What else have you tried to turn your volunteers into fundraisers? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
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